However, there are a lot of warnings in media about the risk of getting skin cancer from the sun…. And yes, of course it’s not healthy to stay in the sun for a long period of time – and it’s definitely dangerous to get a sunburn.

Therefore, you have to be smart about it.

You have to make sure you get a healthy dose of sun every day so you can get the benefits from it, but you must also make sure not to damage your skin.

Depending on where you live, how strong the sun is and your skin type, to be in the sun 10-60 minutes a day is healthy.

And if you’re just spending a short time in the sun, you shouldn’t put on sunscreen (unless you’re super sensitive to the sun), because sunscreen blocks out the UVB rays and it’s the UVB rays that our bodies need to produce vitamin D.

Then if you know you’ll be in the sun for a longer period of time, you either can protect your skin by wearing clothes and a sun hat or you can put on sunscreen.

If you’re going to be in the sun for a longer time, put on a SAFE sunscreen to protect your skin.

If you’re going to the beach and you want some sun tan, you should use a sunscreen so that you don’t get sunburned.

But be careful about what sunscreen you put on yourskin, and even more important, your kids’ skin,because there are studies pointing to that the main reason for the scary increase of skin cancer is not the sun, but the sunscreens….!

Some studies show that unsafe ingredients used in many sunscreens are the main culprit to the increasing cases of skin cancer and melanoma – NOT the sun.

The reason why some sunscreens may be a contributing cause of skin cancer (and also other health issues such as estrogen and hormone disrupt, allergies and skin irritations), is that potentially harmful ingredients in those sunscreens easily penetrate the skin, and get absorbed into the blood.

A study published in Environmental Science Technology showed e.g. that the common sunscreen ingredients oxybenzone, methoxycinnamate, and PABA are estrogenic chemicals linked to cancer.

You don’t want to use sunscreens with toxic chemicals… They may damage your health and even cause skin cancer.

It’s better to choose sunscreens containing zinc or titanium oxide. These do not break down as easily in sun light, are usually not absorbed, are usually not allergenic and more effective to block out UVA rays.

Here are 6 tips about sunscreens:

How to choose a SAFE sunscreen and avoid potentially health damaging ingredients

1) Check out EWG latest guide on safe sunscreens.

Before you go and buy a sunscreen, you should check out the Environmental Working Group (EWG) annual guide to sunscreens.

Approximately 50% of the sunscreens analyzed by EWG do not work well or contain potentially hazardous ingredients. This includes many of the most popular brands on the market.

If your sunscreen is purchased from a drug store, grocery store, or discount chain, there’s a high chance your sunscreen is on EWG’s worst sunscreens list.

2) Make sure your sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays

The sun gives us two main types of wavelengths – UVA and UVB.

Both can cause tanning and burning (and skin cancer), but it’s only the UVB rays that are necessary for the skin to make vitamin D3.

The UVA rays on the other hand penetrate the skin deeper than UVB and can cause severe free radical damage including wrinkles and photo-aging. They also destroy vitamin D!

Most of us are exposed to large amounts of UVA throughout our lifetime. UVA rays account for up to 95 percent of the UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface.

Although they are less intense than UVB, UVA rays are 30 to 50 times more prevalent. They are present with relatively equal intensity during all daylight hours throughout the year, and can penetrate clouds and glass.

UVB is the chief cause of skin reddening, blisters and sunburn, but tends to damage the skin’s more superficial epidermal layers. UVB rays do not significantly penetrate glass.
So you definitely don’t want a sunscreen that blocks only UVB rays and not UVA rays.

This would totally work against you by limiting vitamin D3 production and damaging your skin.

3) Choose sunscreens with max. 30-35 SPF

Unless your skin is very sensitive to the sun, a sunscreen with a higher SPF than 30-35 is not necessary.

Most people think that using a “high SPF” sunblock is the best choice, but it’s actually not…

Those high SPF sunscreens can instead give you a more serious sun damage. The higher the SPF the MORE damage you can get.

How come?

Because the SPF factor tells you only how much the sunscreen is blocking the sun’s UVB rays, not the UVA rays.

And since UVA rays don’t burn your skin as fast as UVB, you may be staying too long in the sun – without knowing it. So even if you don’t actually notice it on your skin, your skin may be damaged from the UVA rays.

Also be careful if your sunscreen says “broad spectrum”, it usually only deflects some UVA. But “broad spectrum” doesn’t tell you how well it works against UVA rays.

4) Choose a sunscreen without harmful chemicals

You should be aware of that mass market sunscreens are full of harmful chemicals that may disrupt hormones and even promote cancer.

Researchers at the University of California discovered that the chemical oxybenzone, a common ingredient in sunscreens to absorb UVA and UVB, boosts the production of dangerous free radicals in your skin after just 20 minutes of exposure to the sun!

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) says approx. 56% of beach and sport sunscreens contain oxybenzone (benzophenone-3).

After doing studies, the EWG believe that oxybenzone is linked to hormone disruption and potentially to cell damage, that may lead to skin cancer.

The EWG also recommends consumers to avoid sunscreens with retinyl palminate. Studies have found that this type of vitamin A may increase risk of skin cancer when used on sun-exposed skin.

Sunscreens that contains vitamin A or retinol may actually speed the development of skin tumors and lesions when sunlight is present.

Many skin care creams for the face contain vitamin A and fragrances. Make sure not to use them when you’re spending time in the sun.

5) Avoid using spray-on sunscreens (aerosol)

Vitamin A and harmful chemicals are not the only thing should avoid. You should also avoid spray-on sunscreens, even though they are easier to apply.

The Food and Drug Administration has concerns that aerosol sunscreens can be inhaled during application. Both the chemicals and the nano-particles of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide (found safe in other forms) worry scientists, who say that these particles are easily ingested.

These particles can penetrate lung or skin tissue into the bloodstream, and may then cause severe organ damage.

Aerosols can also be dangerous because they are highly flammable.

6) Use sun protection with low SPF most of the time and sun protection with a high SPF occasionally

If you use sunscreen with high SPF all the time, there is a potential risk of vitamin D3 deficiency.

Typical use of sunscreen doesn’t result in vitamin D3 deficiency, but extensive usage may.

And vitamin D deficiency may increase your odds of developing melanoma and other diseases.

If you use a sunscreen with a low SPF (10-20) most of the time and only use a high SPF sunscreen (30-50) when you’re spending a long time directly in the sun, you should get enough vitamin D3 AND enough protection for your skin.

And in case you prefer to use as little sunscreen as possible, check out “Radiance”, a Sunscreen Capsule:

Radiance is a convenient capsule with a unique formula. Its ingredients activate your body’s built-in sunscreen, it protects your skin from the sun without covering yourself in messy – and potentially toxic – sunscreen.

It also prevents long-term damage to your skin.

Dr. Al Sears, Royal Palm Beach FL, says:

“Living in south Florida, I started taking it as soon as I could… Even in winter, Radiance slows your skin’s aging clock and zaps those deep lines and wrinkles.

The same thing can happen for you. Preserve your youth without exposing yourself to toxic chemicals. Rediscover the joy of outdoor living. Stop worrying about burns … or worse.

Radiance is your best ever opportunity to keep youthful skin as you age.”

(Please note: If you’re allergic to wheat or gluten, don’t use Radiance).

Enjoy the summer and the sun, and make sure you choose a SAFE sunscreen!

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